Beyond the Wrench

What 5,500 Technicians Really Think About the Industry

In this recorded webinar, WrenchWay leaders Mark Wilson and Jay Goninen, along with Dave Johnson from ASE, share highlights from the 2026 Voice of Technician Survey. Based on more than 5,500 responses across the automotive and diesel industries, they discuss what technicians value most.Watch the video and follow the slides hereAbout the EpisodeHost: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, jayg@wrenchway.comGuests: Mark Wilson, WrenchWay, mark@wrenchway.com; Dave Johnson, ASE, djohnson@ase.comLinks & ResourcesGet notified of new episodes --> Join our email listDownload the full 2026 Voice of Technician Survey Report: https://wrenchway.com/resources/2026-voice-of-technician-survey-report/ About WrenchWay:For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

Training & Developing Young Technicians

Cindy Barlow, Director of Industry Relations at WyoTech, joins us to talk about how, as an industry, we’ve neglected training young and entry-level technicians. In this episode, she discusses how shops can better support and develop young talent, why early exposure helps students decide if the industry is the right fit, and how fundamentals, soft skills, and early training are essential to improving retention.Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!About the EpisodeHost: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, jayg@wrenchway.comGuest: Cindy Barlow, WyoTech, cbarlow@wyotech.eduLinks & ResourcesGet notified of new episodes --> Join our email listAbout WrenchWay:For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

Building Better Collision Technicians in the Classroom

Jessica Weaver, Auto Body Collision Technology Instructor at Dakota County Technical College, shares how adapting to different learning styles, using visuals, and hands-on play can make a real impact in the collision repair classroom. She explains what it means to truly meet students where they’re at, how she keeps up with rapidly changing vehicle technology as an instructor, and why educators shouldn’t be afraid to ask industry partners for help.Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!About the EpisodeHost: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, jayg@wrenchway.comGuest: Jessica Weaver, Dakota County Technical College, jessica.weaver@dctc.eduLinks & ResourcesGet notified of new episodes --> Join our email listAbout WrenchWay:For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

Bonus Episode: Inside Alliant Power’s Capital Reman Acquisition

Jeff DeCarlis, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Alliant Power, joins us live from HDAW in Texas to share a major announcement: Alliant Power has acquired Capital Reman. In this episode, Jeff walks through the strategy behind the move, how the team is being integrated, and how the new distribution model delivers a “total package” that helps shops reduce downtime, turn bays faster, and improve long-term reliability.Note: This episode was recorded live at HDAW. We apologize for the background noise and minor audio issues.Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!About the EpisodeHost: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, jayg@wrenchway.comGuest: Jeff DeCarlis, Alliant Power, jdecarlis@alliantpower.comLinks & ResourcesGet notified of new episodes --> Join our email listAbout WrenchWay:For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

From Heartbreak to Hands-On Apprenticeships

Renee Crisler, Owner and Founder of the Reilly Crisler Jumpstart Memorial Fund, joins us to share how she turned the loss of her son into a mission to help other “Reillys” explore careers in the skilled trades. She shares Reilly’s story, the purpose behind the fund, what Draft Day looks like, and how others can get involved.Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!About the EpisodeHost: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, jayg@wrenchway.comGuest: Renee Crisler, Reilly Crisler Jumpstart Memorial Fund, renee@jumpstart-fund.orgLinks & ResourcesGet notified of new episodes --> Join our email listAbout WrenchWay:For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok